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VIDEO: Saudi man tries to set himself on fire in front of Kaaba

Police say man was mentally ill and did not appear to want to damage shrine in Mecca
(Screengrab)

A video circulating on social media shows security forces apprehend a man in front of the Kabaa in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Monday night.

The man appears to try pour a flammable liquid over his body before he is stopped by worshippers and taken away by the security forces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reKVs_38_7o

According to Saudi news site, al-Arabiya, the spokesman for mosque security stated the man appeared to be in his 40s and was mentally ill.

He also denied rumours that the man was attempting to set the actual Kabaa on fire.

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